Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (2 online) Mindat Auctions

Wardsmithite

Formula:
Ca
 
5
Mg[B
 
4
O
 
7
]
 
6
 · 30H
 
2
O
System:HexagonalColour:Colourless
Hardness:2½
Name:Named after Ward Cromwell Smith (b. 1906), geologist, U.S. Geological Survey.
This page provides mineralogical data about Wardsmithite.

Classification of Wardsmithite

IMA status:Approved 1967
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/H.12-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:6.HA.25

6 : BORATES
H : Unclassified borates
A :
Dana 8th edition ID:26.7.7.1

26 : HYDRATED BORATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
7 : Miscellaneous
Hey's CIM Ref.:9.3.24

9 : Borates
3 : Borates of Ca and Sr
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-4243.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Wardsmithite

Co-type Localities:Hard Scramble claim, Furnace Creek District, Black Mts, Death Valley, Inyo Co., California, USA
Oliver claim (Neglect claim; Oliver Consolidated claim), Ryan, Furnace Creek Borate District, Death Valley National Monument, Death Valley, Inyo Co., California, USA
Year of Discovery:1970

Physical Properties of Wardsmithite

Colour:Colourless
Hardness (Mohs):2½

Crystallography of Wardsmithite

Crystal System:Hexagonal

Optical Data of Wardsmithite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 1.490 nε = 1.476
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.014

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate

Chemical Properties of Wardsmithite

Formula:
Ca
 
5
Mg[B
 
4
O
 
7
]
 
6
 · 30H
 
2
O
Essential elements:B, Ca, H, Mg, O
All elements listed in formula:B, Ca, H, Mg, O

Relationship of Wardsmithite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
6.HA.05Chelkarite
CaMgB
 
2
O
 
4
(Cl,OH)
 
2
·5H
 
2
O Or near, with Cl:OH = 3:1
6.HA.15Satimolite
KNa
 
2
Al
 
4
[Cl|B
 
2
O
 
5
]
 
3
 · 13H
 
2
O
6.HA.20Iquiqueite
K
 
3
Na
 
4
Mg(CrO
 
4
)B
 
24
O
 
39
(OH)·12H
 
2
O
6.HA.35Halurgite
Mg
 
2
[B
 
4
O
 
7
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
6.HA.40Ekaterinite
Ca
 
2
[(Cl,OH)
 
2
|B
 
4
O
 
7
] · 2H
 
2
O
6.HA.45Vitimite
Ca
 
6
[(OH)
 
14
|SO
 
4
|B
 
14
O
 
19
]·5H
 
2
O
6.HA.50Canavesite
Mg
 
2
[CO
 
3
|HBO
 
3
] · 5H
 
2
O
6.HA.55Qilianshanite
NaHCO
 
3
 · H
 
3
BO
 
3
 · 2H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
9.3.1Calciborite
Ca[B
 
2
O
 
4
]
9.3.2Sibirskite
Ca
 
2
[(OH)(B
 
2
O
 
4
(OH))]
9.3.3Fabianite
CaB
 
3
O
 
5
OH
9.3.4Uralborite
Ca
 
2
[B
 
3
O
 
3
(OH)
 
5
·OB(OH)
 
3
]
9.3.5Vimsite
CaB
 
2
O
 
2
(OH)
 
4
9.3.6Olshanskyite
Ca
 
3
[OH|{B(OH)
 
4
}
 
2
]
 
2
9.3.7Frolovite
Ca[B(OH)
 
4
]
 
2
9.3.8Korzhinskite
CaB
 
2
O
 
4
·H
 
2
O
9.3.9Tyretskite
Ca
 
2
B
 
5
O
 
9
OH·H
 
2
O
9.3.10Nifontovite
CaB
 
2
O
 
4
·2.3H
 
2
O
9.3.12Inyoite
Ca(H
 
4
B
 
3
O
 
7
)(OH) · 4H
 
2
O
9.3.13Gowerite
Ca[B
 
5
O
 
8
(OH)][B(OH)
 
3
]·3H
 
2
O
9.3.14Colemanite
Ca[B
 
3
O
 
4
(OH)
 
3
] · H
 
2
O
9.3.15Pentahydroborite
CaB
 
2
O(OH)
 
6
 · 2H
 
2
O
9.3.16Hexahydroborite
Ca[B(OH)
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
9.3.17Meyerhofferite
Ca
 
2
(H
 
3
B
 
3
O
 
7
)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
9.3.18Priceite
Ca
 
2
B
 
5
O
 
7
(OH)
 
5
·H
 
2
O
9.3.19Ginorite
Ca
 
2
B
 
14
O
 
23
·8H
 
2
O
9.3.20Probertite
NaCaB
 
5
O
 
7
(OH)
 
4
·3H
 
2
O
9.3.21Ulexite
NaCa[B
 
5
O
 
6
(OH)
 
6
] · 5H
 
2
O
9.3.22Hydroboracite
CaMg[B
 
3
O
 
4
(OH)
 
3
]
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
9.3.23Inderborite
CaMg(H
 
3
B
 
3
O
 
7
)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
9.3.25Henmilite
Ca
 
2
Cu(OH)
 
4
|[B(OH)
 
4
]
 
2
9.3.26Strontioborite
SrB
 
8
O
 
11
(OH)
 
4
9.3.27Veatchite
Sr
 
2
B
 
11
O
 
16
(OH)
 
5
·H
 
2
O
9.3.28Veatchite-A
Sr
 
2
B
 
11
O
 
16
(OH)
 
5
·H
 
2
O
9.3.29 P-Veatchite
9.3.30 Balavinskite
Sr
 
2
B
 
6
O
 
11
·4H
 
2
O
9.3.31Tunellite
SrB
 
6
O
 
9
(OH)
 
2
·3H
 
2
O
9.3.32Strontioginorite
(Sr,Ca)
 
2
B
 
14
O
 
23
·8H
 
2
O

Other Names for Wardsmithite

Synonyms:
IMA1967-030
Other Languages:
German:Wardsmithit
Spanish:Wardsmithita

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Wardsmithite

Reference List:Erd, R.C., J.F. McAllister & A.C. Vlisidis (1970), Wardsmithite 5CaO•MgO•12B2O3•30H2O, a new borate mineral from the Death Valley region, California: American Mineralogist: 55: 349-357.

Grew, E.S., and Anovitz, L.M. (1996) BORON: Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry, second edition, as revised (2002).

Internet Links for Wardsmithite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Wardsmithite on Google
  • Look for Wardsmithite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Wardsmithite on Webmineral
  • Look for Wardsmithite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Wardsmithite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Wardsmithite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Wardsmithite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Wardsmithite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Wendel Minerals - Auktion & Shop
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Wardsmithite specimens
  • Buy Fine Minerals from mineralsweb.com
  • Find Wardsmithite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • Wright's Rock Shop - excellent mineral specimens since 1970
  • Search for - Wardsmithite - on e-Rocks Mineral Sales & Auctions
  • Fine Minerals from Dan Weinrich Minerals
  • Edwards Minerals - Fine Specimens
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • DAKOTA MATRIX offers Cabinet and Rare Species from Worldwide Localities.
  • Mineral Classics - Worldwide Collector Quality Minerals and Gems
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.

    Localities for Wardsmithite

    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    USA
     
    • California
      • Inyo Co.
        • Death Valley
          • Black Mts
            • Furnace Creek District
    		www.mineralsocal.org; American Mineralogist: 55: 349-357
    Am Min 64:3-4 pp 369-375
          • Death Valley National Monument
            • Furnace Creek Borate District
              • Ryan
    		Erd, R.C., J.F. McAllister, and A.C. Vlisidis (1970) Wardsmithite 5CaO • MgO •12B2O3 •30H2O, a new borate mineral from the Death Valley region, California. American Mineralogist: 55: 349-357; McAllister, James Franklin (1970) Geology of the Furnace Creek borate area, Death Valley, Inyo County, California. California Division of Mines and Geology Map Sheet 14, 9 pp.; Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 241 & 243.
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 22nd Oct 2009 00:19:48